Tell me about... Consul Mark II

[Squire_Dawson]

... Ford Consul Mk.2 with 1700cc engine please. I am a Ford virgin so completely ignorant of any foibles possessed by these cars. Danke.

[joethornton1986]

The one I had was actually the most unreliable car I've ever owned and came home on a flatbed more times than any of the other 100 odd cars I've had the pleasure of, that said while it was running it was one of my favourites, the three speed column shift gearbox was unpleasant compared to the Vauxhall equivalent though

 

 

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[Junkman]

I'd say the ones that had quibbles have long since been cubed raced.

Have you won the Lotto, or why are you considering one?

[Squire_Dawson]

Because I have decided that all transport henceforth should satisfy the following three requirements:

 

1. be rear wheel drive

2. have steering column gearchange

3. front bench seat

[Angrydicky]

They're good cars, but attract the attention of the rock 'n' roll scene, and (with the notable exception of m' learned friend Mercrocker) most of the people in it are far more interested in leopard print seat covers, confederate flags and whitewall tyres than making sure the car is structurally sound and drives properly. Ones which haven't been rocknrolled to death can be hard to find. They can rust badly - door bottoms, front wings (fibreglass are available), boot floor, outriggers, chassis legs, inner and outer sills, rear quarters and wheelarches, and the front edge of the bonnet is double skinned and rots from the inside out. Some panels are available, but they're very expensive. Mechanically, they're reasonably tough. The three speed column change was quite good on our 1960 MKII lowline that had had all the bushes in the linkage replaced. Top gear is quite tall, so you don't feel hindered by only having three speeds.

The wipers on them were originally vacuum which operates from a reservoir on top of the fuel pump. They're ok, you get used to them, but a lot of cars have been converted with a Mini electric motor.

 

A common problem with them is the mechanical fuel pumps are a bit weak and struggle to bring petrol up for a cold start - we fitted an SU electric pump which solved this problem (cue wails of complaint from the Ford fanboys).

[Squire_Dawson]

Much obliged.

[cros]

Everything fairly strong and straight forward, only thing that would and has always put me off is price. Morris Oxford or Cambridge also meets criteria for much less, Oxford is better and well underrated, especially for decent steering.

I would look at a Wyvern E - much better than you'd think if you can find one that actually got some paint on the underside. (the reason for most of them dissolving)

I met a bloke with one like this early example which had never been welded. All but the first few shared their running gear with the CA van which is pretty robust and a decent if slow drive. Much less thirsty than the Consul. Velox for more power. With a c.r. of less than 7:1 the only way is up, things can only get better etc. VX 4/90 engine should frighten even a Zodiac.

[bigstraight6]

If you want an old Ford with rear wheel drive, column gear change and front bench seat a MK3 Zodiac is what you need. They drive so much better than the MK2 cars, and you really need a six cylinder engine in cars of this size and weight, the MK2/3 four cylinder cars I've driven have been hard work.....

[Junkman]

I think a much more shitist approach is required.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1952-SINGER-SM-FOR-RESTORATION-VERY-RARE-CAR-C-W-V5-REG-DOC-/122421045294

 

 

Shite - check

RWD - check

Shite - check

Column change - check

Shite - check

Bench seat - check

Shite - check

 

Added bonuses:

 

You can tell the birds at the club that you drive an SM.

You'd make my day when we push it into the show corral at Chodmolestly.

[Felly Magic]

The Consul that Car SOSige did was a prime example of one that has been bodged over the years, the B post wasn't even attached on the bottom on both sides

[Uncle Jimmy]

I think a much more shitist approach is required.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1952-SINGER-SM-FOR-RESTORATION-VERY-RARE-CAR-C-W-V5-REG-DOC-/122421045294

 

 

Shite - check

RWD - check

Shite - check

Column change - check

Shite - check

Bench seat - check

Shite - check

 

Added bonuses:

 

You can tell the birds at the club that you drive an SM.

You'd make my day when we push it into the show corral at Chodmolestly.

Nah, overhead cam engine, far too advanced.

[Uncle Jimmy]

I've long fancied a Consul; rough though unmodded examples seem to turn up fairly often on the Bay. Get one so I can vicariously restore it on here.

I reckon they're prettier than the Zodiac too.

[cros]

Just in case the SM isn't quite shit enough the death-knell makeover plumbed new depths.

[Angrydicky]

I really like E-series Vauxhalls, but have you seen the prices they're going for these days? No cheaper than Consuls!

[59Impala]

One thing to check on a Mk2 is the sills - they have three and the inner membrane is often rotten or missing. You need to ask nicely that the door sill plates are are removed and then shine a torch inside. Quite important as they add strength. But also expensive to repair properly. If you do buy a Consul (or any Mk2) first gear has no synchro so it's best to avoid selecting it from rest and put it into second then down into first. This stops the layshaft spinning and extra wear and tear. And I still have a hankering for another Mk2.

[Squire_Dawson]

Thanks all for the info. The pre-Rootes Singers are lovely cars, in Junkman's photo you can see the Hunter he also had for sale in the background. I believe this is the same model as that in cros's picture. I saw it listed a while back but someone had cut a sizeable chunk of its floor out and he was asking silly money. A shame as I prefer that model with the traditional 'radiator' shell. The Hunter 75 or whatever the factory tuned version was called made quite a flyer.

[cros]

I really like E-series Vauxhalls, but have you seen the prices they're going for these days? No cheaper than Consuls!

Oh well, not for me then if they're in Ford territory. I've been a bit shocked by some of the odd features on 'Verns and Veloxes. Along with engine driven wipers the early ones with two way opening bonnet must have been even more entertaining than workers playtime. Much was made of the washer system squirting through the centre of the wiper spindle; today it's bluetoothed Corsas, Vauxhall still know how to get the droolers hard.

[mercrocker]

Consuls are vastly over-priced in my opinion.....6 pot equivalent Z cars are a much better thing to buy.   They do however benefit from a strong spares scene and whilst AD is completely on-track with regard to the Rockin' scene and some of those who buy these cars it also has to be said there are one hell of a lot of old Teds and Rockers who have fervently looked after them for the past 30-40 years.   

 

I am not saying this simply to balance the books - it just means that there exists an extremely healthy level of spares cars and parts network, something we all know makes it much more viable to run certain old car models than it does others. 

 

I would like an E Type Vauxhall of the same era but it would take a hugely bigger level of commitment to run and restore one of these simply because of the above fact.   It also means that buying a Consul wrong'un need not be such an expensive mistake - they are always being sought after.   In fact there is a red oxide Lowline with a "For Sale" notice on the side of the road a couple of villages away from me now that looks like it has good sills (an absolute MUST on any Mk2 Ford) - not something you see happening with any other 50s motor apart from possibly a Minor.

 

I just think that for the cost a Zephyr or Zodiac offers a much better drive for  little more money.    In fact, the Mk1 big Fords also offer a very good alternative although the Consul again is a bit slow compared to the Mk2 which is no fireball either.   The only thing you gain with a Mk2 apart from the larger engine displacement is the possibility of discs on later models.   

 

Why not think about the next generation Oxford?   I can confidently say that these drive so much better than other mainstream British 50s saloons (although Mk1 Zephyr Six owners may beg to differ), you get rack and pinion, tele shocks and torsion bar suspension allied to a long-lived B Series engine for which parts are still not too difficult and shared of course with so many other cars.